AS the Farmers for Action group blockades Morrisons’ depots, a major row has erupted between the two parties.

Since starting its protests, FFA claimed Morrisons has refused to acknowledge its calls for a meeting and had not communicated with the action group. This was a point used by FFA members, particularly on Twitter, to validate their claims that the retailer was not interested in their members’ plight.

But Morrisons rejected the claims, stating that the company’s group corporate services director Martyn Jones had sent a letter to FFA chairman David Handley on October 31.

The letter expressed the supermarket’s anger at the blockades, its commitment to British produce, its lack of influence on farmgate milk prices and what it sees as the damaging nature of FFA action.

Morrisons’ bosses were understood to be angry at its depots being targeted and the ongoing claims of FFA against it.

Mr Handley, however, said the letter was not even sent to the correct email address.

He said: “The email address on the letter is obviously incorrect and means we did not receive it on the day they say it was sent.

“If they want to play that game with intellectual people, which we are, they will get caught out. They think they are being clever by sending this letter to the media, but they are not.”

By calling us liars, Morrisons is simply enticing us to carry out more action. We are 100 per cent squeaky clean.”

But Morrisons said the action group had had the letter for almost a month but had not replied.

A Morrisons spokesman said: “On October 31 we sent a letter responding to Farmers for Action. We have received no response to that letter.”

On the wider issue of protests and whether they will continue, Mr Handley said the group had no thoughts of quitting.

He added: “In phase one of our action we stopped further price cuts and, as long as we have farmers willing to support us, we will continue to protest. We want to get back to the stage where we have a good relationship with processors and retailers and a fair and functioning milk market for farmers.”